Teenager in court on poison charge following counter-terror arrest earlier this week

He is accused of attempting to obtain 10 milligrams of abrin, a toxin

Police outside a house in Tameside following the arrest of two teenagers on counter-terrorism investigations (PA)

A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of trying to get his hands on a deadly poison with no antidote.

The teenager, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, is charged with attempting to acquire abrin, a biological toxin or agent of a type and in a quantity “that has no justification or prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purpose”, between 24 December last year and 16 February this year.

The charge was brought at Tameside Magistrates’ Court in Ashton-under-Lyne under the Biological Weapons Act 1974 and the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.

He is accused of attempting to obtain 10 milligrams of abrin, a toxin, in a quantity not for any lawful or peaceful purposes. The court heard that just 0.05mg of abrin is enough to kill a human.

The youth was flanked by two uniformed police officers and security guards in the glass and wood-panelled dock, and spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the 10-minute hearing.

As the boy’s parents were brought into court, his father blew a kiss at his son. Throughout the short hearing, the couple wiped away tears and his mother held a handkerchief to her mouth.

The court was told the authority of the Attorney General must be given before an offence of this nature can be proceeded with.

The maximum sentence for the offence is life imprisonment. No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody until Monday when he will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

The boy was arrested on Monday following an investigation by the North West Counter Terrorism Unit along with a 16-year-old girl, who was later released without charge.